End feed for double seamers



May 1, 1923. 1,453,818

M. E. WIDELL ET AL END FEED FOR DOUBLE SEAMERS Filed Nov. 17, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 1 -M. E. WIDELL ET AL END FEED FOR DOUBLE SEAMERS Filed fov. 17. 1920 liq-3 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1, 1923. 1,453,818 I M. E.WIDELL ET AL END FEED FOR DOUBLE SEAMERS Filed Nov. 17 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 5 May 1, 1923. 1,453,818

M. E. WIDELL ET AL END FEED FOR DOUBLE SEAMERS Filed Nov. 17, 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 4 May 1, 1923. 1,453,818

M. E. WIDELL ET AL END FEED FOR DOUBLE SEAMERS Filed Nov. 17, 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 1, 1923.

UNITED STATES l 1,453,818 PATENT oer-"ice. 4

HAG-NUS E. WIDELL, OF HAYWOOD, A.ND ARTHUR A. J'AHR, FOREST PARK,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF ,NEW YORK, N, Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

mm FEED non. DOUBLE swans.

Application filed November 17, 1920. Serial No. 424,696.

part of a double seaming machine, it will be understood that theinvention contemplates other and different uses and is adaptable tovarious types of machines in which can ends are separately fed.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a feedingmechanism of highly efficient and wholly automatic action, which isadapted to separate the can ends from a stack and move them to positionto be attached to the can bodies.

Another highly important object of the invention is the provision ofmeans for separating can ends from a stack, adapted to yield in theevent of coming directly into contact with the edges of the can ends andhaving a plurality of operative strokes ino suring entrance of saidmeans between the bottommost end and the one next above it, whereby torelease said bottommost end.

.A further important object of the invention is the provision of afeeding mechanism of this type, which, by slight adjustment of arts, isadapted to handle can ends of diferent sizes and shapes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanismof this kind 0 which is of relatively simple construction and operationand is devoid of delicate parts likely to require frequent repair orreplacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent asit isbetter understood from the following description when. considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment thereof. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can end feeding apparatus embodyingour inven- Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the feeding mechanism takensubstantially on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectiontaken sub stantially on the line 3-3 inFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 44.- in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 55 in Fig. 3;

F1 2 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 66 in Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on the line 7-7 in Fig. 5;

F1 8 is a section taken substantially o the line 8-8 in Fig 7 Fig. 9 isa schematic view showing the re lation of certain of the can end cut-outparts; and

Fig. 10 is an isolated perspective view of a can end feed cut-out, rolland mounting.

On the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of our invention, wehave shown a construction which constitutes a part of the apparatusdescribed in our co-pending application No. 424,697, known as ahorizontal stationary can double seamer for non-circular cans.

By reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the feeding apparatus issupported from a frame 11 which extendsup above the seaming mechanism,the latter being mounted on a suitable base. The operative members areencased within a casing 12 adjacent a runway 13 through which the canbodies are passed. The can ends are fed from a chute formed of guidebars 14 of angle formation, the stack of ends being supported upon aseparator composed of a plurality of retractable blades 15 andseparating knives or rolls 16, the blades and rolls being alternatelyprojected into the path of the can ends by a mechanism which will now bedescribed.

Referring first to Fig. 3, it will be noted that there are three blades15 mounted upon the end of slides 17 moved in slide ways 1a in anannular frame. member 19. In the frame member 19 is an annular slidegroove 21 in which may be oscillated arcuately a ring 22, which ring isprovided with three inclined slots 23 into which take rolls 24 on theunder surfaces of the slides 17. This ring is oscillated by an anglelever 25, pivoted at 26, on a bracket 27 on the support, and having aroll 28 taking into a cam slot 29 in a circular cam 31 upon a shaft 32.Upon this shaft is a sprocket wheel 67 which is engaged by a chain driveand given continuous rotation thereby. It will be understood that bythis means the entire feeding mechanism is actuated.

Each roll 16 is carried in a swinging lever 33 pivoted at 34 in a slideblock 35. This slide block normally moves with the support 15 and isheld in place upon a positioning plate 36. The slide block 35 is cutaway at the rear at 37 to embrace a boss 38 upon the plate 36 and on thebottom of the block 35 is a downwardly extending shoulder 39 adapted tofit in an aperture 41 on the plate 36. A

recess 42 is provided in the rear of the slide block 35 and in thisrecess a spring 43 bearing against the boss 38 is provided. Springs 40are positioned in recesses in the heads of the levers 33 and controlvertical movement of the rolls 16. In action the rolls 16 are swungarcuately about the pivots 34 to separate the flanges of the stack ofcan ends, cutting out a lowermost one and permitting it to drop from thestack when the supports 15 are withdrawn. The springs 43 normally holdthe slides in forward position and permit them to yield should the rollsbe forced against the stack with the can ends slightly elevated and inthe path of the movement of the roll edge. The spring in this eventholds this roll closely against the edge of the can end and permits itto be projected in between the edge of the lowermost end and the onenext above when the stack has settled sufficiently to permit this. Thesprings 40 also serve to make certain the release of individual endsdespite unfavorable conditions. rolls down and prevent their cutting outmore than a single end, but permit them to rise to produce separation incase they encounter a malformation of an end flange. The swinging of thelevers 33 is accomplished by an annulus 44 mounted abovethe annulus 22,said annulus 44 being oscillated by a roll 45 carried in a bearing 46and engaging a cam 47 upon the, shaft 32. This annulus is provided withthree radial slots 48 in which are disposed blocks 51 mounted upon bolts52 taking down through slots 53 in the tails 54 of the levers 33. Thebolts are adjusted in the slots engaging lock plates 55 and 56 uponopposite ends of the tails.

The can ends are thus successively cut out from the stack and fall intoa directing chute 62 passing down into position in front They normallyhold the of the cans 65 as they reach the bottom end of the can bodychute. The guiding surfaces, indicated at 63, for the ends as they comeinto registration with the can bodies, are so inclined with respect toeach other that the shoulders of the can ends are positioned in the openends of the bodies. They are then ready for the seaming operation of themachine below.

It will be noted that the cam 47 causes movement back and forth of theroll 16 for each rotation of the shaft 32 and that the cam 31 produces asingle quick action of the slide supports. The arrangement is such thatthe roll moves back and forth across the can end flanges for eachcut-out, and in this movement, produces separation for either on thefirst or second stroke. If it. fails to be in position to enter on thestroke in one direction, the spring construction described permits itsbodily retraction and it may enteron the return stroke. If it succeedsin passing between the flanges on the first forward stroke, the flangesremain apart so that it has no difficulty on the return stroke andpositive separation is thus produced. It will also be noted that theslides 17 are movable within certainlimits, being held in desiredposition by nuts 64, the feeding mechanism being thus adjustable both asto size and shape of the ends, by loosening the nuts.64, slightly movingthe slides 17 as may be required and then re-tightening the nuts.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description. and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being'merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A can end feeding mechanism comprising a stack holder for holdingaccumulated can ends, and a plurality of retractable blades andseparating knives and rolls. said blades and rolls being alternatelyprojectable into the path of the can ends, and means for reciprocatingsaid rolls with said plurality of strokes.

2. A can end feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of retractableblades and separating rolls alternately project-able into the path ofthe can ends, and, in turn, supporting and separating them.

3. A can end feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of alternatelyoperated supporting blades and separating rolls, slides in which saidblades and rolls are mounted, and cam-controlled members operating thesame.

4. In a can end feeding mechanism, a plurality of separating rollscarried upon power-operated actuating members and intermittentlyprojected into the path of-the can ends to cut out and release thebottommost end of a stack.

5. In a can end feeding mechanism a plurality of rolls for cutting outcan ends from a stack and having a plurality of operative strokes foreach operation.

6. In a can end feeding mechanism, a plurality of .swinga-ble separatingrolls carried upon power-operated actuating members and intermittentlyprojected into the path of the 1 can ends to cut out and release thebottommost end of a stack, said rolls yielding either said blades androlls each being operated by cam-controlled actuating members.

said ends and feedin them into seaming relation with the can b odies,and means for operating said blades and rolls.

9. A can end feeding mechanism comprising a stack holder for holdingaccumulated can ends, and a plurality of retractable blades andseparating knives and rolls, said blades and rolls being alternatelyprojectable into the path of the can ends, and being adjustable bothaccording to the size and shape of said can ends.

MAGNUS WIDELL. ARTHUR A. JAHR.

projectable into the path of the can en 5, separating

